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Something has happened to me and I didn’t see it coming. If I analyzed each component of this realization individually I might not have come to the same conclusion. It is the combination of all components which made me go ‘WOW’ something has happened.

Clue #1: I am currently sitting at the gate for my flight 2 hours early. I am actually at the gate. That means I arrived at the airport 2 hours and 30 minutes before my flight. I’ve never been one to stress greatly about time when it comes to getting to the airport – I like to get there in the shortest amount of time without being considered late. One hour. I am not one for waiting around when waiting around isn’t necessary. I am normally the last one getting on the plane as I want to spend the least amount of time possible jammed into my seat. Although in recent times getting on the plane early has its merits since most everyone brings an excessive amount of checked luggage and if you don’t get on early there is no room left. But let’ focus on me arriving early to the airport.

Clue #2: Practicality when it comes to fashion is not my jam. In spring, summer and fall my Carrie Bradshaw ways to do not cause any issues. Enter winter. In the past, I’ve been known to wear heels in a snow storm, and one winter, when I lived in Toronto, I survived with a jean jacket as I couldn’t find a winter jacket I liked enough. I was willing to suffer through the cold all in the spirit of avoiding being ‘not-fashionable’. I subjected myself to salt stains on shoes and frozen appendages by choice. As I sit here at my gate 2 hours before my flight I can’t help but take account of what I am wearing. I have a stylish winter jacket and on my feet… rubber boots. Granted they are not regular rubber boots – they look like leather boots and they are a chic moto style. It made me think even further – I did not even pack a pair of heels for this trip. A pair of booties with a heel (but not heels). Socks can be worn with the booties.

Clue #3: Last night (and most nights) before I went to bed I cleansed my face. I exfoliated. I removed my eye make-up. I moisturized. I moisturized my neck. When I woke up this morning I didn’t have yesterday on my face and red lipstick on my pillow.

Clue #4: Last Friday night when I arrived in Toronto I stayed with one of my girlfriends. Traditionally we could jump right into socializing and sleep very little. I had a very busy week leading up to my departure and knew we had plans on Saturday night with a big group of girlfriends. I found myself saying – I am fine to stay in and get a good sleep in order to be fresh for tomorrow. What? Did I actually say that? Let’s stay in so we can be fresh for tomorrow. I think most anyone who knows me would say I am a social creature who would rarely miss out on an opportunity to fraternize. Especially when there could be hot men found. ESPECIALLY when there could be hot men found.

Clue #5: Prior to my departure for this trip I had my laundry done a day early. I packed with strategy vs an eleventh hour throw together. I had cleaned out my fridge as I was leaving for 10 days. I put the garbage and compost out. I got my nails done the day before. I left the key in the cupboard outside of my doorway in case someone needed to stay there was I was gone. My departure was organized.

(I had to stop writing at this point as my flight was boarding)

On my flight home I had an older woman from Newfoundland seated beside me. There were no TV screens on the plane to be distracted by andshe was up for some chatting, so we gabbed and laughed for most of the flight. We covered a lot of subjects: travel, health, relationships, online dating, adoption, death and Trump (of course). I roared at some of the funny things she said. When talking about a friends daughter she said ‘Anna was looking for a man and let’s just say she wasn’t picky’. At the end of the flight she said to me ‘Well, how lucky was I to sit by you. What an interesting person you are and life you have. You’re just so much fun – I haven’t laughed like that in awhile.’ And I said the same to her.

So when I put it all together: early to the airport, wearing appropriate clothing, a consistent skin care routine, choosing to be fresh over hunting for men and having my place perfectly organized prior to my departure. I have become sensible. I need to find a better term for it – like some women who do not want to be called Grandma, being called sensible doesn’t resonate well with me. Mature, grounded, evolved. There is no sexy substitute for it. I’ve resolved that just because I am on time, wearing waterproof shoes and feeling well rested does not mean that I am boring. I may have become more sensible in my ways, but as my seatmate recognized I’ve not lost my wild heart.

“Being tame is what we’re taught: … put the crayons back, stay in line, don’t talk too loud, keep your knees together, nice girls don’t…As you might know, nice girls DO, and they like to feel wild and alive. Being tame feels safe, being wild, unsafe. Yet safety is an illusion anyway. We are not in control. No matter how dry and tame and nice we live, we will die. And we will suffer along the way. Living wild is its own reward.” S.A.R.K.